Okay, I just checked availability NW for an award ticket. The good news is that NW has seats.

The bad news is that we all now have to pay $10 for a ticket that used to cost only miles.

Do non-revs also get this surcharge?

It seems to me that if it's applicable to award tickets, everyone that is going into an airport (who isn't working) should have to pay the same for the under skilled, over zealous, poorly paid, improperly trained Argenbright fellas to feel us up and take away our tweezers and corkscrews.

It's a good question. Seems fair that all should pay. Personally, I think they should have kept free tickets free and if necessary marginally upped the security charges on the rest.

You're right, non-revs should have to pay.

As for keeping free tickets free - since the security fee is directed by the government, I think you'd have a hard time telling pax that they have to pay $10.05 - the extra 5 cents being to cover the security charges of people flying on free tickets. Despite the small surcharge, I could see there being a lot of resistance from informed frequent flyers.

The thing I'm most upset about is that I hear some airlines are charging $10 regardless of the number of segments in the trip. A round-trip JFK-LAX nonstop only incurs a security fee of $2.50 each way. That's $5 and I think it's unfair for the airlines to scam people out of an extra $5.00 that's not mandated by the government.

d

Doppy,

Which airlines are charging that $10 flat fee? Everything I have seen from each airline (stateside at least) indicates that it is $2.50 per segment with a max of $5.00 each way.

William

This is another example of bad policy. If they had only raised the federal tax to 8% from 7.5% there would be more than enough extra income to pay for the "new and improved" security. Instead, we have another add on fee that lets the airlines to continue with quoting fares below what the true cost is.

Non revenue passengers do not have to pay this fee becuase that is what the airlines wanted.

Non revenue travel has nothing to do with reward travel. Whether the airline chooses to charge their employees this fee, or not, should be of no concern to any of you. I don't question your benefits at work - why would you question mine? If my company wants to pay that security fee then more power to them. Many airline employees are already working for substandard wages - the possibility of free air travel is the only thing that makes it worthwhile to many people. Have you seen that many airlines starting wage for their Customer Service Agents is between 8.00 and 9.00 per hour? As long as you are concerning yourself with their benefits then please concern yourself with their inadequate wages as well.

This is not a surcharge for using non-revenue tickets or miles or free tickets, etc. The fee is for security at airport I believe was active starting February 1st.

I used miles for 2 rt tickets and got it on January 31st, called back and change the date, they told me I have to pay security tax/fee of $10 for both tickets at DFW.

Also, it depends on the airport and the charge can be from $2.50 to $10.00 each.

Mabey I fail to see the big picture. I just booked 4 FC tickets to HNL, and I did not mind paying the $40.00 for what would have been $6,000. I guess it is all relative.

It's just an aesthetic thing. The perceived value of something totally free is non-linearly higher than something that has nickels and dimes attached to it.

There may be a brighter side to this charge. Since you cannot get an award ticket without paying this extra charge, and if you charge it to a credit card, wouldn't it be the same as if you were buying a ticket with the credit card and therefore are covered by the accidental death insurance?

Thank you, ChaseTheMiles for bringing up the accidental death insurance benefit, which may or may not cover death from acts of war or terrorism.

Only thing is I don't wanna die to get the full benefit of my frequent-flyer program.

Fly HP to see the snakes

This is just another cost shift onto the consumer. The airlines will save big time by no longer having to pay for security. Do not count on having this cost savings passed down to you in lower ticket prices.

This security fee is the opening of the door for even higher fee's down the road. The number of different taxes is starting to boggle my mind. The tax that I most object to are the Customs and INS fee's. Should that not come out of the Federal Budget in the first place?

A simplified tax fee would go a long ways in bringing out truth in airfare advertising---but then who ever said the airlines play fair.

Continental non-revs do not pay the fee, although non-employee non-revs do.

I was quoted $10 for an award although I'm not sure if that's a flat fee -- this was for four segments.

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daniel baker -- [email protected]
Reliable, fast, and unmoderated forums at ITYT.

Absolutely not. The full fare of the ticket needs to be charged to the card.



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daniel baker -- [email protected]
Reliable, fast, and unmoderated forums at ITYT.

This depends on the card. My casual reading of the American Express policy seems to agree with what you wrote.

However, here's a quote from the Diners Club Travel Accident Insurance Program Terms and Conditions:

So, for Diners Club cardmembers, coverage is provided for frequent flyer tickets, even prior to 2/1/02 when no amount whatever was charged to the credit card. This apparently is true even if all revenue tickets are charged to another credit card (of course, those tickets would only be covered by that card's travel insurance, if any).